A67927:1004
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It were a large & long process to story out all the doings, travels & writings of this christian Bishop neither yet have we expressed all that came to our hands: but this I thought sufficient for this present. Thus he continued in this laborious function of a Bishop the space of certain years, till the coming in of the 6. Articles.1 Then being distressed through the straightness of time, so that either he must lose the quiet of a good conscience, or else must forsake his Bishopric, he did of his own free accord resign his pastorship. At which time Shaxton then bishop of Salisbury resigned likewise with him his bishopric. And so these two remained a great space unbishopped, keeping silence till the time of king Edward of blessed memory.2 At what time he first put of his Rochet in his chamber among his friends, suddenly he gave a skip in the floor for joy, feeling his shoulders so light, and being discharged (as he said) of such an heavy burden. Howbeit neither was he so lightened,3 but that troubles & labours followed him wheresoever he went. For a little after he had renounced his bishopric, first he was almost slain, but sore bruised with the fall off a tree. Then coming up to London for remedy, he was molested & troubled of the bishops, whereby he was again in no little danger, & at length was cast into the Tower where he continually remained Prisoner, till the time that blessed K. Edward entered his crown, by means whereof the golden mouth of this preacher, long shut up before, was now opened again. And so he beginning a fresh to set forth his plough again, continued, all the time of the said king▪ labouring in the Lords harvest most fruitfully, discharging his talent, as well in divers other places of this realm, as in Stamford, and before the Duchess of Suffolk (whose sermons be extant and set forth in print) as also at London in the convocation house: and especially before the king at the Court, in the same place of the inward garden which was before applied to lascivious & courtly pastimes there he dispensed the fruitful word of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ,4 preaching there before the king & his whole Court, to the edification of many.